Bogota , Tennessee -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Those who say no man is an island never met Danny Hayes . The 61-year-old retired construction supervisor lives in Bogota , Tennessee , a farming community so small that when asked how to find the town , locals respond , `` Do n't blink . ''

Hayes ' trailer in Bogota is about seven miles from the Mississippi River . Historic flooding across the region brought `` the Old Muddy '' much closer to him .

The two-room trailer is more than 5 feet off the ground , but the river 's invasion reaches Hayes ' door and , at its height , threatened to evict him .

`` There 's the possibility the trailer could shift , could turn . Could flip over , '' Hayes said , standing on the trailer 's small porch . `` Then again , I am not worried about that because I will get out . ''

The Mississippi 's flooding has already forced hundreds to flee small towns like Bogota to cities like Memphis .

And meteorologists say the heavy rainfall across the South could mean weeks more of high water . Whatever comes , Hayes said he will not be moved .

`` I 'd say for the average person who grew up in towns , you 'd be in a dangerous situation , '' he said . `` I 'd say a person who learned to live off the land and to survive , it 's not a big thing . ''

The one acre of land Hayes retired to is no longer recognizable to him . Groves of pecan trees now stand half-covered in water .

Homes abandoned by neighbors sit in several feet of dank and stinking water . To get to dry ground , Hayes paddles a small boat about 50 yards to Highway 78 .

Once on shore , he then walks the half-mile to town each day for a pack of cigarettes and a little conversation . The homes around Hayes ' trailer sit empty , but as he waits out the flood , he is hardly alone .

Since the waters began to rise , Hayes said , all manner of animals have swum by the trailer , looking for higher ground . The snakes , he shoots .

`` It 's illegal to kill snakes in Tennessee , '' he said with a serious look before breaking into a wide smile . `` Unless it 's for your own protection . ''

The nine-shot revolver with a long barrel that Hayes keeps close also works to ward off other predators .

Empty homes in the rural area could make for an inviting target for looters , he said . But his and his neighbors ' homes are safe , Hayes said , while he patrols his small `` island . ''

To make his point , Hayes suddenly shoots the pistol three times in sudden succession into the invading waters .

`` I am a crazy old man , '' he said with a laugh , `` And I will shoot the hell out of you , and I am serious about that . ''

As he waits for the waters to retreat , Hayes ' family checks in with him regularly by cell phone . His two sons and their families fret about his decision to ride out the flood .

But Hayes said he never considered leaving . He 's too stubborn .

So stubborn he married and divorced the same woman three times before they finally called it quits .

Too stubborn `` to run for the hills over some water . ''

`` Rescue all them poor people and do n't worry about this 61-year-old man , '' he said . `` Do n't waste no 911 on me . ''

But with the water slowly receding , it appears that Hayes will be spared from the flood 's wet grasp . Still , it could be another week , he predicted , before Bogota begins to dry out .

Asked what he will do while the floodwaters retreat , Hayes replied with a ready joke .

`` I got to sell this here land , '' he said , `` while it 's still waterfront property ! ''

CNN 's Sara Weisfeldt contributed to this report .

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Danny Hayes , 61 , lives in Bogota , Tennessee

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The flooded Mississippi River has reached the door of his two-room trailer

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Armed with his revolver , he is refusing to evacuate

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`` I got to sell this here land while it 's still waterfront property , '' he jokes